Bellagio's conservatory changes five times a year. Here is how part of it looked last spring.

Courtesy of MGM MIRAGE

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LAS VEGAS — Chlorophyll is not the usual version of green that one associates with this city where dollars rule.

But in a town where hotel-casinos will try just about anything to lure customers, the free oasis of green in the form of the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at Bellagio is a welcome diversion from the long restaurant lines, high shop prices and smoky intensity of the gaming parlors.

Whether you're a garden lover or not, the conservatory is a worthwhile stop. Exhibits with thousands of blooming plants change five times a year, so chances are you'll see something new each time you visit.

Expect to see wedding parties and families being photographed and lots of scampering kids.

This year's summer exhibit capitalized on the garden train hobby and depicted a rail journey across the United States. From May to mid-September, nine trains meandered daily through eight miles of brass track, passing national icons in miniature along the way.

This followed on the heels of the successful Spring Celebration (giant poppies and a butterfly habitat) and Chinese New Year (giant red lanterns, a six-level pagoda and koi pond) exhibits earlier this year.

A feature for the garden this year has been a 120-year-old banyan tree from West Palm Beach that was scheduled to be cut down to make way for a sculpture garden. (The tree was diagnosed with a fatal fungus last year and had to be removed to protect neighboring trees.)

The dead tree, which weighed 200,000 pounds, was divided into 120 pieces and transported to Las Vegas on a dozen 52-foot tractor-trailers. Some parts were put in storage. The rest was transferred to the conservatory, where it has been an inspiration for magnificent displays.

The tree is so wide that visitors meandered through paths in the base, which is 40 to 45 feet wide.

This is possible because of the growing patterns of the banyan, known as Ficus benghalensis, which originated in India.

It has roots that grow downward from branches to form new trunks.

During Chinese New Year, its branches were lavishly decorated with bromeliads, cyclamen, chrysanthemums and orchids.

The banyan tree was on display through November, after which the conservatory went into holiday-display mode. The tree is stored for use in future shows.

One to two weeks are needed to transform the 13,500-square-foot atrium.

Full access may be limited when displays are changed, but the conservatory never closes.

Reservations: 1-888-987-6667.

Contact: www.bellagio.com.